Chapter Twenty-Four
Dara enjoyed every moment of his heat and was sad when it ended. Seth’s sister Angie was a lifesaver, taking Skye at a moment’s notice to let Dara and Seth do the work of solidifying their bond. Well, work was a misnomer. Hot, ecstasy-inducing sex that seemed near never-ending and drew them ever closer.
The next few weeks were busier than anyone had expected. The ability to shift spread through the pack like a virus, starting with the youngest and working its way through until even the oldest of their pack were shifting with ease. It gave the older a new lease on life. It gave the kids even more; a sense of identity the pack had lost.
“Full moon Wednesday night,” he said one morning while he was feeding Skye and Seth was going through their to-do list for the week.
“Uh-huh,” Seth said, not looking up from the list.
“So we might want to stay around the pack for that.” Seth had been planning a day trip to River Den.
Seth glanced at him. “Why’s that?”
“A pack full of new shifters around a full moon? Seth, we’re going to need reinforcements. I’ve already spoken to Davyn and Ollie, they’re coming over Tuesday morning to help.”
“What are you saying?”
“Kids can’t control their changes around the full moon. And, with being new shifters, you’re all kind of like kids right now. We’re going to need all hands on deck to keep everyone safe.”
Seth put down the list. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I kind of thought you knew.” Which made no sense in hindsight, considering Seth was a new shifter himself. “And you did delegate shifting matters to me. I didn’t think it was fair to put all the arrangements on you as well.”
His alpha smiled at that, leaning over to press a quick kiss to Dara’s lips. “You’re always looking out for me, huh?”
“That’s what mates do. But I should have made sure you knew.”
“And I should have asked more questions. We’re still finding our groove.”
They kissed again, breaking apart when Skye cooed between them.
“Jealous, little man?” Seth teased, picking up his list.
“He does like to be the center of attention,” Dara replied, tickling Skye’s chin.
Seth turned to a clean sheet of paper. “So, let’s plan the week from scratch. I’m thinking lots of pack bonding activities to keep people in the one place. Barbecues, movie nights, that kind of thing.”
Dara shuffled closer, resting a head on Seth’s shoulder as he watched his alpha draw up a timetable of events. Seth didn’t see it yet, but he had a keen sense of what his pack needed. He was going to be a great alpha.
“You’re going to change this evening, right?” Seth asked him.
Dara, caught out by the question, paused. “Um, yeah. I was planning on it. Why?”
“No reason. Just looking forward to seeing you in all your ocelot glory.”
They shifted together whenever they could. Once Seth had the ability, he wanted to explore it as often as possible.
“You will be an ocelot, right?” An ocelot was the form Dara had the strongest affinity to but he liked to change it up now and then.
“Ocelot is my favorite. You wouldn’t rather I be a wolf?”
“I’d like to see you as a wolf, but not tonight,” Seth said softly. “I’d like the pack to see other shifter animals. Maybe later in the week…”
“Definitely,” Dara replied, catching Seth’s hand in his. “We could go for a run together, out to the cliffs.”
“I’d like that,” Seth said. “I could race you. And if you win, I’ll give you a present.”
The look on Seth’s face told Dara exactly the kind of present his alpha had in mind.
“What if you win?”
“I guess that’s up to you.” Seth grinned and Dara shook his head, reaching for his clothes.
The day passed quickly, the whole pack excited for the evening’s plans. Dara and Seth retreated to their room with Skye to change form. Seth held Skye in his arms while Dara shifted, loving the feel of four paws beneath him.
Seth put Skye down on the floor next to him and Dara watched his son’s nose twitch as he caught Dara’s scent. So far, Skye had only shifted to a wolf. Dara had hoped he’d get to experience a few other forms while he was young but it hadn’t happened so far. Maybe this was their chance?
The change washed over Skye, and Dara lay on the floor, resting his head on his paws, and just stared at the beautiful ocelot kitten mewling at him. He nudged him with his nose, feeling Skye’s soft fur against him. When he looked up, there was a wolf staring at him. Instinctively, he moved to protect Skye, realizing as he did that it was, of course, Seth.
Seth whined and stepped slowly closer. Dara leaned toward him and they nuzzled each other. Beneath them came an indignant cry. They broke apart and looked down at Skye, the kitten clearly put out by their closeness. Seth barked quietly and turned toward the door. Dara bent down, catching Skye by the scruff of his neck, and carried him out, following in Seth’s footsteps.
The evening was a bit nerve-wracking for Dara. With so many new shifters around, he had to be careful of Skye. He let him spend time with some of the smaller wolf cubs, but even they were a bit boisterous. Seth was over and back to him, disappearing now and then to check on the rest of the pack.
Finally, Dara retreated to their porch, climbing up onto the swing and letting Skye settle between his paws. The kitten cuddled against him, falling asleep, his tail and ears twitching now and them. Dara tried to stay awake but knew he was fighting a losing battle.
He woke to a warm nose nuzzling his face. Opening his eyes, he found Seth’s wolf on the swing next to him. It seemed like he’d been there a while, the sun had almost set and the pack was quiet around them. Warm and comfortable, he whined under his breath and went back asleep.
The next time he woke, Seth was back in human form, kneeling in front of him in the dark.
“Hey, beautiful. I think it’s time we get someone to bed. Two someones maybe.”
Dara glanced down, finding Skye curled tight against him, fast asleep. He went to nudge him awake but Seth stopped him.
“I’ve got him.”
Seth eased Skye into his arms, the kitten giving a soft cry as he was lifted but settling quickly into Seth’s hold.
Stretching his long form, his tail whipping lazily back and forth behind him, Dara got up and padded after Seth into the house. They went straight to their room and as Seth settled Skye into his crib, he changed back.
“Good evening, huh?” Seth asked in a hushed whisper.
“Yeah,” he whispered back. “It was great.”
Seth wrapped his arms around him and Dara rested his tired head against the alpha’s chest. “You make a cute ocelet. You and Skye together, cuteness overload.”
“He won’t be a kitten forever.”
Seth hooked a finger under his chin, drawing his eyes upward.
“But you’ll both always be beautiful to me.”
Sighing, Dara returned to snuggling against the alpha’s chest. Bed could wait. Right then, there was nowhere else he’d rather be than in his alpha’s arms.
The morning sickness hit him like a train. One moment he was fine, the next he was doubled over and retching. And once he started, he couldn’t seem to stop. A hand on his lower back made him start.
“Easy,” Seth soothed. “It’s just me.”
He rubbed slow circles across Dara’s back and then he was gone. Dara’s stomach stopped heaving and he leaned against the wall, turning to look for Seth. His mate hadn’t gone far, returning with a wet towel to clean Dara’s face and a glass of water.
“Are you sick?” Seth asked as he helped Dara clean up. “You’ve gone three shades paler.”
He managed a weak smile. “I’m okay. I was like this with Skye, too. Though it wasn’t as bad.”
“Ohhhh,” Seth said. “The morning kind of sickness. Ouch.”
He reached for Dara, easing the omega closer so that his head was resting against Seth’s chest. “Sorry, buddy. I’ve heard it can be rough. What can I do to help?”
Dara sighed against him. “You’re already doing it.”
“Good. How about we get you back to bed for a nap?”
He tried to shake his head. “I’ve stuff to do. Davyn will be here soon.”
“And he can come and keep you company while I make sure things are ready for today. You don’t worry about a thing, okay?”
Seth pressed a kiss to his forehead and Dara suddenly felt overwhelmed. When Zane had learned Dara was pregnant, he’d yelled and shoved him against a wall.
“Hey.” Seth’s soft voice broke through his memories but the touch of a hand to his cheek had him flinch. “Shh. Easy. It’s just me.”
Dara turned, hiding his face against Seth’s T-shirt.
“Dara, what is it? What’s wrong?”
He shook his head again. Seth didn’t want to hear this. Dara didn’t want to hurt him.
“Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it, together. You and me. That’s what mates are for, right?”
Dara peeked his head up, meeting Seth’s concerned eyes.
“It’s Zane,” he mumbled, breaking eye contact.
“Zane’s gone,” Seth said but tugged Dara closer, wrapping arms around him.
“I know. I’m being stupid.”
“Tell me. Please. Because I know you’re not being stupid.”
Dara let Seth hold him, taking comfort in his scent, in his warmth, in the strength of his arms wrapped protectively around him.
“He was angry about the baby. Shouted. Pushed me. I thought he was going to hurt me or the baby.”
He could remember the sick sense of fear that washed over him as he huddled against the wall, his arms across his stomach.
Seth’s hands slipped lower, one pressing against his still flat stomach. “No one is going to hurt you, or our babies. I love you and I’m not going to let anything happen. I am so happy I found you and Skye, and I am over the moon that our family is going to grow.”
There was nothing but sincerity in Seth’s voice, in his touch. Dara relaxed into it, his fear fading away in the face of that pure love.
“I feel safe with you,” he murmured, knowing that wasn’t exactly what he was trying to say.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Seth replied.
“It feels so right, what we have. When I’m in your arms, I’m home.”
He glanced up again and Seth was smiling, more brightly than he had since Angus had died.
“That’s what your scent says to me,” the alpha said. “It says home. It says family.”
Seth stood slowly, lifting Dara into his arms. It felt strange being off his feet but he just held on tight to Seth as he was carried into their bedroom. Seth lay him down on the bed and climbed in next to him, taking Dara into his arms once more.
“You have things to do,” Dara said, half-heartedly trying to push him away. “I’m just being silly.”
“Nothing I have to do right now is more important than making sure you’re okay,” Seth said. “So you and the cubs just relax.”
“Do you think we’ll have many?” Dara wondered.
“You’d know better than I would,” Seth said. “But remember, it’s not a competition, right? We don’t need to beat Cade and Hunter’s five.”
Seth was teasing but Dara gave him a serious answer. “I don’t think we will. Falling pregnant so quickly after the last time should mean fewer babies. It’s nature’s way of making sure we can manage.”
“Nature sure is smart. I just wish she’d been smarter so we could have met without Zane getting between us.”
Dara tensed at the name and Seth soothed a hand along his arm. “He’s gone, and he’s never coming back. I made sure of that.”
“I know,” Dara whispered, turning in Seth’s arms so they were face to face. “Thank you for that.”
“I will always keep you safe. Always.”